€2.8bn rail project to reshape Malta’s transport network
Malta plans to build a 24-kilometre light rail line linking St Paul’s Bay to the airport as part of a wider 15-year transport overhaul aimed at tackling congestion and reducing car dependency. Transport Minister Chris Bonett said the route, named the La Valette line, would become the backbone of a new integrated network combining buses, ferries and cycling routes. The project is estimated to cost €2.8 billion, including a substantial contingency for construction risks. Sections of the line are expected to run underground, while others will be elevated or at street level depending on surrounding density and terrain. Stops are planned at key hubs including Valletta, Qormi, Mater Dei, the university and St Paul’s Bay. Technical studies are due to begin immediately, with construction expected within five years. The first operational segment between the airport and Valletta is targeted within the next decade. (Times of Malta)
Grand Harbour regeneration enters investor consultation phase
Government has launched a pre-market consultation for the first phase of its Grand Harbour regeneration project, opening discussions with local and international investors over one of Malta’s most ambitious urban renewal plans. Environment Minister Miriam Dalli said the initiative would transform underused waterfront areas into spaces offering new economic opportunities and improved public access. The first phase covers the Potato Sheds area, the former power station site, Jesuits’ Hill, the Custom House, Mifsud Verandah and Bridge Wharf. Authorities said the four-month consultation would gather ideas, proposals and expressions of interest before formal tenders are issued at a later stage. The process is being led by the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation with technical support from Grant Thornton. Officials described the consultation as an essential step in determining market appetite and shaping the project’s future direction before more detailed studies and negotiations begin. (Maltatoday)
Opposition leader promises five-year mass transport plan
Opposition Leader Alex Borg has pledged to introduce mass transport within five years, positioning traffic congestion as one of Malta’s most urgent political issues. In a video message, Borg said the country’s roads had become a daily burden on families, workers and businesses, with people losing valuable time in traffic every day. He accused government of years of discussion without delivery, arguing that ministers remain divided over how to finance and implement large-scale transport reform. Borg said Malta continues to rank among Europe’s most congested countries and insisted immediate action was needed alongside longer-term solutions. His comments came hours after government unveiled a 15-year strategy centred around a €2.8 billion light rail line from St Paul’s Bay to the airport. The competing announcements signal that transport and quality of life are likely to become central issues in the national political debate.” (The Malta Independent)
